What you need, when you need it

Just a friendly reminder that we are continuing to add information, tutorials, grant deadlines, and other important details to pages dedicated to your tier of partnership with the district. Please use these resources to help answer your questions. 

Tier I | Tier II | Tier III 

Resources for Good

Embracing Everything with Colorado MahlerFest

Each May, music-lovers within the Denver metro area and from around the world flock to Boulder, Colorado in celebration of the late-Romantic composer, Gustav Mahler. The annual Colorado MahlerFest pilgrimage is something that classical music fans look forward to all year. 

“We’re like a family that doesn’t spend enough time together to get sick of each other,” joked Artistic Director, Kenneth Woods. Started more than 30 years ago to remedy the lack of Mahler music being played by traditional symphonies, Colorado MahlerFest has grown into an annual staple, and a source of community.

Born in 1860, Gustav Mahler was a conductor and composer who completed nine symphonies and 40 songs during his lifetime. Mahler was known for bringing together both “high” and “low” art throughout his work, a revolutionary combination that was frowned upon by the musical establishment in Vienna during this time. He once famously said, “A symphony must be like the world. It must embrace everything.” 

Mahler’s more modern musical perspective provides Colorado MahlerFest a lens through which to expose modern audiences to his work and the work of his contemporaries. Whether you’re a Mahler aficionado or simply Mahler-curious, it’s sure to be a wonderful week of music, community, learning, and everything in between. This year’s festival “Mahler and the Mountains” will offer concerts, community dinners, symposiums, Mahler-themed hikes and cocktail classes, open rehearsals, and something brand new...

Reserve Your Spot at the SCFD Block Party & Awards

Don't forget to reserve your spot by May 22, 2024 at SCFD's Block Party & Awards! Join us for a party in the SCFD parking lot on June 5, 2024 from 5:30 - 8:30 p.m. to celebrate this year's Rex Morgan Award honorees together. FREE valet parking, beverages, and international fare from an assortment of food trucks. We hope to see you there!

Roundtables from The Collaborative of the SCFD

The Collaborative of the SCFD hosts roundtables, trainings and networking events, which are open to all SCFD Tiers. Please RSVP to Jannett@Collaborativescfd.org if you would like to attend the events below.



Website Accessibility: Beyond the Basics, presented by Emily Shuman - Executive Director of Rocky Mountain ADA

This session will review the relevant legislation driving website accessibility initiatives and delve deeper into common website barriers, accessible design choices (e.g., fonts, color contrast), and other tips and tricks to help people with disabilities get the most out of your website. Join on Zoom (passcode 426293) on June 6, 2024 from 10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.

Common Access Barriers in Facilities for People with Disabilities, presented by Emily Shuman - Executive Director of Rocky Mountain ADA

This session will review the ADA facility design standard’s application and purpose. We will discuss common access barriers in facilities that can be addressed with minimal burden, and a practical framework for prioritizing barrier removal. Join on Zoom (passcode 731194) on July 18, 2024 from 10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.

Discounted Tickets - Ars Nova Singers "Fruition: Shared Visions" Performances

Ars Nova Singers invites members of the SCFD to reserve 50%-off tickets to their performances of Fruition: Shared Visions from June 7-9. This interdisciplinary, collaborative project was years in the making. It began with a gallery featuring 24 captivating works of art. Poets from across the state devised poems about these works, and the resulting anthology provided inspiration for commissioned choral compositions by four Colorado composers to be performed by Ars Nova Singers. Learn more and buy tickets here using the code SCFD for a 50% discount!

SURVEY: DCPA Conducts Space-Needs Assessment 

The Denver Center for the Performing Arts’ five-year strategic plan calls upon the organization to maximize the use of its facilities by hosting increased internal and external events. As such, the organization would like to understand the space needs of all SCFD-funded organizations to inform its future plans. The survey will take approximately 3-8 minutes to complete. Thank you in advance for your participation. Take the survey here.

New Staff? Make Sure They're Signed Up for SCFD Email Communications!

As the 2024 grant cycle continues, please ensure that any new staff at your organization who might be involved with SCFD funds signs up for our email communications. We send regular updates to organizations by Tier regarding grant deadlines, trainings, and more.

"Elevating the SCFD" Shout Out

As part of our ongoing work with you to help raise the profile of the SCFD for residents across the metro area, we’ll be adding a hat tip to organizations who have found a way to include SCFD in their outreach. The goal is to highlight all the ways your organization can help. 

We welcome all funded partners to join us in elevating the value of SCFD. Need ideas or content? Check out our Communicators' Toolkit.

Hat Tip to Colorado Chautauqua

A special thank you to Colorado Chautauqua for their shoutout to SCFD in their 125th anniversary video on YouTube.



Register your Free Days with Us

If you have free days, programs or events to share with the public, you can submit them for inclusion on the SCFD website. This is one of the most visited pages on our website. Submit your Free Days. 

Farewell to Board Members Ray Gonzales and Marcela de la Mar

We’d like to extend a fond farewell to SCFD board members, Ray Gonzales and Marcela de la Mar. 

"It has been a pleasure serving on the board with Ray and Marcela,” said Board Chair Jacki Cooper Melmed, “we are grateful for their years of service and know that they will continue to be champions of arts, culture, and science in our community.”

Ray has a passion for economic development, and currently serves as the President of the Metro Denver EDC. He feels strongly that the premier delivery of art and cultural opportunities accentuate the culture of our innovative and inclusive region. He is a patron of the DCPA and Denver Art Museum. Ray is committed to the metro area and believes in the value of SCFD for all the residents of the seven counties.

Marcela strives to elevate art and culture to all. She spent 23 years of her career serving the community with the Office of the Consulate General of Mexico in Denver and the Mexican Cultural Center. Marcela enjoys supporting organizations such as the Denver Zoo and Butterfly Pavilion. We appreciate her insight and experience of cultural organizations both large and small throughout the seven counties

“Ray and Marcela have been invaluable leaders and members of our board and will always be members of the SCFD family,” said SCFD Executive Director, Deborah Jordy.

Thank you, Marcela and Ray! 

May Board Meeting

The next meeting of the SCFD Board of Directors will be held at the Randy Weeks Theater in the Robert and Judi Newman Center for Theatre Education at 1 p.m. on May 23, 2024. Get information for joining meetings and see the full calendar of 2024 board meetings.

Did you know you can stay up to date on all things SCFD more than just once a month? Check out our News You Can Use webpage!